Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is investing £1.3 million to upgrade a significant section of its network in Bournemouth, future-proofing the power supply for residents and business owners.
With initial groundworks starting on Monday 29 June, the 2.2 kilometre underground cable project will run for six months and will increase the capacity of the area's power supply through the replacement of sections of cable, strengthening the electricity infrastructure and allowing for future commercial and residential connections.
The overall programme of works will boost the power supply to 14,000 local customers, reducing the risk of faults which could affect homes and businesses across Bournemouth, and keeping the network resilient and secure for years to come.
In compliance with government guidelines on social distancing and the use of enhanced Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to ensure maximum safety for customers in the area and colleagues working on the project, SSEN will start the programme of works on Monday on Boundary Road with the route of the upgrade ending on Moorside Road towards the end of December. These working guidelines include implementing a one person one van policy, thorough safety checks in advance of any work, and maintaining a two metre distance at all times.
Richard Boles is SSEN's Project Manager for the upgrade. He said:
"Bournemouth is a busy town, boosted by its tourist trade and, at SSEN, we want to ensure that the homes and businesses here have a power supply that will enable this town to continue to grow and develop. This investment will build a strong and resilient network that will accommodate our customers' needs, now and for many years to come.
"I want to reassure our customers that our engineers are adhering to the strict Government guidelines on social distancing, so we can ensure the safety of our colleagues and our customers, and that we will do all we can to minimise disruption during this essential upgrade project."
"Due to current restrictions, we have been unable to hold a public engagement event for local residents and business owners to come along, meet the SSEN project team and discuss the works. However, we still want our customers to know that we are available to address any questions raised. With this in mind, we have carried out letter drops to homes and businesses in the vicinity of the works, containing details of the project and various ways of contacting the team."
As SSEN is aware that its customers may have concerns relating to power cuts at this time, it would like to reassure them that there are no Planned Service Interruptions (PSI) for the duration of these works.
SSEN's teams will carry out the works between the hours of 08:00 and 18:30 from Monday to Saturday, with no scheduled works to be carried out on Sunday, unless in exceptional circumstances. Engineers will also look to alter work patterns to minimise traffic congestion in the event of tourist and school travel increasing on the project route in coming months.
As current conditions mean SSEN is unable to hold any public engagement events for the project, it will endeavour to keep residents and business owners in the vicinity of the works updated and able to raise any concerns they might have directly through the Project Manager, by email: Richard.bolessse.com or mobile: 07970 013054.